Pulmonary Cell News Volume 7.16 | Apr 26 2018

TOP STORY

Lung Dendritic Cells Drive NK Cytotoxicity in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease via IL-15Rα

Scientists used lung tissue and in some cases peripheral blood from patients undergoing clinically-indicated resections to determine in vitro killing of CD326⁺ lung epithelial cells by isolated lung CD56⁺ natural killer (NK) cells. [Am J Respir Crit Care Med] Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

lncRNA PFAL Promotes Lung Fibrosis through CTGF by Competitively Binding miR-18a

The authors identified that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) NONMMUT021928, designated as pulmonary fibrosis-associated lncRNA (PFAL), was up-regulated in the lungs of mice with experimental lung fibrosis, and in TGF-β1–induced fibrotic lung fibroblasts. They showed that overexpression of PFAL promoted cell proliferation, migration, and fibroblast-myofibroblast transition. [FASEB J] Abstract

Expression of MATE1, P-gp, OCTN1 and OCTN2, in Epithelial and Immune Cells in the Lung of COPD and Healthy Individuals

Investigators demonstrated MATE1 protein expression in the lung with localization to the apical side of bronchial and bronchiolar epithelial cells. [Respir Res] Full Article

Neotuberostemonine Inhibits the Differentiation of Lung Fibroblasts into Myofibroblasts in Mice by Regulating HIF-1α Signaling

Researchers explored the effects of hypoxia on lung fibroblasts and the effects of neotuberostemonine, a natural alkaloid isolated from Stemona tuberosa, on activation of fibroblasts in vitro and in vivo. [Acta Pharmacol Sin] Abstract

LUNG CANCER

Upregulation of SALL4 by EGFR Activation Regulates the Stemness of CD44-Positive Lung Cancer

The expression of Sal-like protein 4 (SALL4) was induced by the activation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) through the extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 signaling pathway. The knockdown of SALL4 expression could suppress spheroid formation and the expression of lung cancer stem cell marker CD44. [Oncogenesis] Full Article

H19 Promotes Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) Development through STAT3 Signaling via Sponging miR-17

Researchers found that H19 was upregulated in A549 and H1299 cells compared to normal lung epithelial BEAS-2B cells. Meanwhile, they observed that miR-17 was downregulated in NSCLC cell lines. [J Cell Physiol] Abstract

ER Stress-Mediated Autophagy Protects against β,β-Dimethylacrylshikonin-Induced Apoptosis in Lung Adenocarcinoma Cells

Scientists demonstrated that β,β-dimethylacrylshikonin (DMAS) markedly inhibited cell viability in a dose- and time-dependent manner, and induced apoptosis as well as autophagy in human lung adenocarcinoma cells. They found that DMAS stimulated endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and mediated autophagy via the PERK-eIF2α-ATF4-CHOP and IRE1-TRAF2-JNK axes of the unfolded protein response in human lung adenocarcinoma cells. [Cancer Sci] Abstract

Knockdown of POLDIP2 Suppresses Tumor Growth and Invasion Capacity and Is Linked to Unfavorable Transformation Ability and Metastatic Feature in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

The authors report that a novel gene polymerase delta-interacting protein 2 (POLDIP2) was downregulated in non-small cell lung cancer tissues and demonstrated that overexpression of POLDIP2 increased the anchorage-independent growth and invasiveness of H1299 cells. They examined that knockdown of POLDIP2 in H1299 and A549 cells reduced tumorigenicity and metastatic capacity in vitro and also in vivo. [Exp Cell Res] Abstract

Hypoxia-Induced Cisplatin Resistance in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cells Is Mediated by HIF-1α and Mutant p53 and Can Be Overcome by Induction of Oxidative Stress

Investigators focused on the role of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) and the p53 tumor suppressor protein in hypoxia-induced cisplatin resistance in non-small cell lung cancer cells and the potential of APR-246 to overcome this resistance. [Cancers (Basel)] Full Article

hsa_circ_0079530 Promotes Cell Proliferation and Invasion in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Scientists found that hsa_circ_0075930 expression levels were significantly higher in non-small cell lung cancer cell lines and tissues. The elevated hsa_circ_0075930 expression was correlated with tumor size and lymph node metastasis. [Gene] Abstract

Role of miRNAs in Lung Cancer

The authors summarize the role of miRNAs expression in lung cancer (LC). They also provide information about the miRNAs as biomarker and therapeutic target for LC. Understanding the role of miRNAs in LC may provide insights into the diagnosis and treatment strategy for LC. [J Cell Physiol] Abstract

Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the pulmonary cell research field.

STEMCELL Technologies Announces $45 Million Government Funding for Advanced Manufacturing Facility

STEMCELL Technologies announced a $45 million joint funding agreement between the Governments of Canada and British Columbia to help the company build a state-of-the-art advanced manufacturing facility. The funding agreement will accelerate the Vancouver company’s rapidly scaling business of providing cutting-edge reagents and tools to support life science researchers around the world working in the cell therapy and regenerative medicine fields. [STEMCELL Technologies Inc.] Press Release

U.S. Food and Drug Administration Accepts Supplemental Biologics License Application for Opdivo (Nivolumab) in Previously Treated Patients with Small Cell Lung Cancer and Grants Priority Review

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company announced that the FDA has accepted for priority review its supplemental Biologics License Application for Opdivo to treat patients with small cell lung cancer whose disease has progressed after two or more prior lines of therapy. [Bristol-Myers Squibb Company] Press Release

Vertex Initiates Phase III Studies of VX-445, Tezacaftor and Ivacaftor as a Triple Combination Regimen for People with Cystic Fibrosis

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated announced that it is initiating two Phase III studies of VX-445, tezacaftor and ivacaftor as an investigational triple combination regimen for people with cystic fibrosis. [Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated] Press Release

AstraZeneca Reports Results from the ARCTIC Trial in Third-Line Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

AstraZeneca and MedImmune announced high-level results from the Phase III ARCTIC trial in patients with locally-advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer who have received at least two prior treatments. [AstraZeneca] Press Release

European Medicines Agency Validates Type II Variation for Merck’s KEYTRUDA^® (Pembrolizumab) in Combination with Pemetrexed (ALIMTA^®) and Platinum Chemotherapy as First-Line Therapy in Metastatic Nonsquamous NSCLC, Based on Phase III KEYNOTE-189 Trial

Merck announced that following validation by the European Medicines Agency, the centralized review process has begun for the company’s Type II Variation, which seeks approval for KEYTRUDA, Merck’s anti-PD-1 therapy, in combination with pemetrexed and platinum chemotherapy for the first-line treatment of patients with metastatic nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer. [Merck & Co., Inc.] Press Release

Checkmate Pharmaceuticals Announces Start of Phase Ib Trial of CMP-001 in Combination with Anti-PD-L1 Immunotherapy in Anti-PD-1/PD-L1 Resistant Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Checkmate Pharmaceuticals announced that it has initiated treatment with CMP-001 combined with atezolizumab in a Phase Ib clinical trial of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer and disease progression on prior anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy. [Checkmate Pharmaceuticals] Press Release

Columbia University Graduate Students Go on Strike

Administration officials contend that research and teaching assistants are students, not workers, and want to take the matter to federal court. [The Scientist] Editorial

U.K. Commits to EU Trial Rules Post-Brexit as CRUK Hails ‘Fantastic News’

The U.K. government said it will endeavor to keep pace with the European Union’s impending changes in clinical trial procedures, bringing some solace to those wondering how the two will stay aligned after Brexit starts in earnest next March. [Questex LLC.] Editorial

Rent Increase Hits Europe’s Drug Regulator before Brexit Move

With less than a year to go before the European Medicines Agency must leave its London headquarters because of Brexit, the agency is facing an unexpected rent increase that could cut into its budget for approving new medicines and overseeing clinical trials. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW 10^th International Heinrich F. C. Behr-Symposium on Stem Cells and Cancer
September 16-19, 2018
Heidelberg, Germany

NEW LabRoots: 6^th Annual Cancer Research & Oncology Virtual Event
October 10-11, 2018
Online

Visit our events page to see a complete list of events in the community.

NEW Postdoctoral Fellow Position – Lung Injury and Repair (University of Kentucky)

Research Technologist – Pulmonary (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Senior Research Associate – Lung Biology and Alveolar Epithelial Cells (University of Southern California)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Lung and Vascular Biology (Northwestern University)

Postdoctoral Positions – Long Noncoding RNA in Tumor Development and Cellular Differentiation (University of Gothenburg)

Postdoctoral Scholar – Lung Cancer (University of California, San Francisco)

Postdoctoral Position – Cell and Molecular Biology (Helmholtz Zentrum München)

Postdoctoral Position – Cancer, Immunotherapy, and Fibrosis (University of Alabama at Birmingham)

Postdoctoral Position – Immune Oncology (H. Lee Moffitt Cancer & Research Institute)

Postdoctoral Scholar – Autoimmune Diseases Affecting the Lung (University of California, San Francisco)

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